I finally made it to the Newport Wetlands. My goal was to investigate an area that I had never birded before and possibly get a sight of the Bearded Tit (Panurus biaricus)
Note the signage in both Welsh and English. |
The reserve was clouded in fog when I arrived which made photography almost impossible. Despite visibility issues there were plenty of birds around. One in particular, the Pochard was high on my list, it looks like a Canvasback or a very close relative.
Next up was a Whitethroat and a pair of Linnet, both photographed at a distance but at least the light was improving.
Linnet (Cardeulis cannabina) Year round reside UK and European finch. |
Whitethroat (Sylivia communis) The same bird above and below but notice how the quality of light can change appearance. |
The Whitethroat can be found in thorn scrub and hedgerows. |
As the light improved so did the birding, thanks mainly to another John who I had met on the trails. The two of us spent the rest of the day looking for the cuckoo which we heard and briefly spotted.
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) Male and female. In Vancouver during the winter of 2014 there was a mini twitch on a male Tufted duck meanwhile in the UK a Lesser or Greater Scaup is a noteworthy find. |
As I made my way back to the interpretive centre for a coffee I spotted this Grebe snacking on what may be a stickleback.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) The largest of the European grebes |
At the excellent interpretation centre there are a couple of feeders and one of the more frequent visitors were a flock of Greenfinch.
As I photographed the Greenfinches, a Reed warbler was busy chattering away about twenty feet in front of me, the problems again were the dense reed bed. Finally after a dozen attempts, a gust of wind pushed the bird into view and voila!
Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) |
I "phissed" this Sedge Warbler to the only bush in the reed bed.
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) |
Another great day came to an end with the nagging wish I had been able to get a better picture of the Bearded Tit, an exotic looking Babbler that would not look out of place in the tropics. I am told by reserve staff there are perhaps thirty in the reserve reed beds. Presently they are busily building their nests or feeding young. The birds winter in the UK and change their diet from insects to seeds.
Anyway, planning my next trip before I return to Canada
So far in this trip I have ticked sixty-eight species of which 32 are "Lifers"
For more information
Good Birding
John Gordon
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